David johnson

Age: 54 years old

Position: President Village of Cassopolis, non-partisan office

Residence: Cassopolis

Education:

• Graduated Ross Beatty High School and attended two years at Michigan State University.

Professional background:

• 25 years in information technology with 10 of those years traveling across the United States installing computers for Chase Bank. The past seven years I have spent pasturing in Cassopolis.
• Pastor of Christ Temple Church in Cassopolis.

Political experience

• Three years as trustee for the Village of Cassopolis,
  appointments on: finance committee, personnel committee and planning commission.

Civic involvement:

• Active participation in Pioneer Days, Fall Festival, Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony, photographer for village events.

What will be your top priority if elected to office? I have three key priorities that are critical for continued growth in Cassopolis: Bringing more industry into our village with the promise of jobs for our local residents, the cleanup of Stone Lake as a recreational spot for our community and the revitalization of our downtown.

What makes you the best candidate for the job? Having been raised in Cassopolis I have a vested interest in the success of the village. As a local pastor I am painfully aware of the need for jobs and with children and grandchildren in Cassopolis. I see the need for better recreational resources. I am fighting for our jobs and families.

What professional/political accomplishments are you most proud of in your life? All too often the local son is not given the same respect that the outsider is given. I feel a great sense of accomplishment knowing that not just young people but many of the people that held me as a baby have now trusted me to be their spiritual leader.

What is the biggest challenge our region faces? How would you address it? In 2009, Michigan’s unemployment rate hit an all-time high. It’s slowly dropping but it is still not great. Our region needs to attract some new businesses that are slowly trickling into Michigan. I would push for our manager to work with our state bring jobs to our area.

Other comments: My roots are deep in Cassopolis. I have lived here, worked here, played here and now I am thrilled to watch my grandchildren growing up with the same rich experiences I was blessed to have. As village president you have my commitment to continue the fight to make Cassopolis a great place to work, live, and raise our children.

Jim Bronke

Age: 66 years old

Position: President Village of Cassopolis, non-partisan office

Residence: Cassopolis

Education:

• Bachelor of science in electronic engineering and computer science

Professional background:

• Military and commercial aircraft engineer contracting

Political experience: 

• Ran for president in last election

• Served on homeowners associations

Civic involvement:

• Frequent attendee at village meetings

• Working on the petition to put fracking on the ballot

What will be your top priority if elected to office? I believe that if the council involves the people they will get involved. This means giving the taxpayers the packets that the council members get at the meetings. More complete disclosure of proposals in writing are my promise.

What makes you the best candidate for the job? My technical experience is in private industry. As an integration engineer on high technology projects I am used to solving tough technical problems. Our village council is sorely in need of this kind of experience and professionalism.

What professional/political accomplishments are you most proud of in your life? On the
Boeing Dreamliner I managed avionics problems and worked to make the aircraft function without problems. As an authority on this I signed off on the aircraft being safe to fly at a meeting with the chief pilots and the chief engineer in charge of the 787.

What is the biggest challenge our region faces? How would you address it? In the last four years the jail sewage system has had nine massive failures. One of which flooded the baseball diamond at Don Horne Park with sewage. Cost: $180,000. My opponent, as a part of the village council did not solve this problem in a timely manner. I would have.

Other comments: Water systems are always under threat. Fracking represents a real threat as our wells are out of town. I plan on approaching the appropriate agencies with this concern and attempting to increase the protected area around our wells.